An unexpected and significant discovery suggests that once considered rare, warm-blooded sharks might be more prevalent than previously imagined.
According to a recent study published in the journal Biology Letters, led by researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, the smalltooth sand tiger shark, a species thought to have diverged from the megalodon over 20 million years ago, exhibits signs of regional endothermy or warm-bloodedness.
The investigation examined autopsies of smalltooth sand tiger sharks that washed ashore in Ireland and southern England earlier this year. The findings, taken from these stranded sharks, uncovered remarkable similarities in physiological features to the extinct megalodon and the great white shark, both known for their warm-blooded nature. Dr. Nicholas Payne, a senior author of the study, highlighted the significance of this discovery, stating,
